Ever wondered why ancient Roman buildings stand sturdier over time? The Romans are known for being architectural geniuses who made piers, breakwaters, and other structures that have lasted for centuries. Despite constantly battling with seawater and time, many of these structures are still intact. According to science, interactions between volcanic ash that were used in the mortar and seawater make the buildings stronger.

The typical concrete is just made of sand, gravel, water, clay, iron ore, chalk, shells, and limestone. When used for bridges, sidewalks, and roads, the ordinary concrete’s lifespan only lasts for decades (about 50 years). And if concrete is exposed to water, its lifespan will reduce even more.

According to Marie Jackson, a geologist from the University of Utah, the durability of the Roman concrete is activated by seawater. The concrete’s material has volcanic ash, rock, and quicklime. When the material is submerged in water, new minerals such as Al-tobermorite and phillipsite are formed in small, crystal-shaped plates. And these minerals strengthen the concrete’s form. The concrete stands better over time with more exposure to seawater, because the minerals grow. The cement also can maintain itself.

However, according to Jackson, this type of Roman concrete will only work for seawalls and breakwaters. Using it might also be harmful to the environment, as it may disrupt tidal ecosystems and harm marine wildlife.

Hi, I’m Jonathan Bunge (Chicago), an architect from , Illinois. Learn more about the latest news and trends in architecture when you visit this blog.

Jonathan Bunge (Chicago) Asks: Should You Encourage Your Kids to Get Involved in Team Sports?

Jonathan Bunge of Chicago admits that he “missed on decades of fitness because he hated sports.” Now that he is older and wiser, he has learned to acknowledge the many benefits of sports that he missed out on as a kid. While he is now more actively involved in physical fitness, he regrets not taking advantage of playing in team sports in his younger years. In this post, Jon Bunge of Chicago shares the numerous benefits of sports for youngsters.

Growing up, I was never involved with any type of sports; at least not in the way that some of my friends were. I can’t point to a single event that made me ‘hate’ sports; all I know is that for as long as I can remember, I avoided it like a plague. Now that I see how my friends’ kids are thriving in their respective sports, I kind of feel envious of them; but, no use crying over spilled milk, right? Anyway, I’d like to share with you some of the benefits that I see my friends’ kids enjoy with their active involvement in team sports at school.

Improves physical stamina

It’s a no-brainer that when you are physically active, you boost your overall wellbeing, particularly your mental and physical health. When your kids become active in sports early on, they begin to build their physical strength and stamina. The physical exercise that they get combined with sweating out toxins, can greatly improve their physical health and fitness. They also start to develop and discover their own physical skills.

It teaches them about discipline

Sports require practice to improve moves and further develop skills. They know the importance of these practices, especially if their team will be playing for inter-school sports competitions. They know that missing these practices could affect their game play, and the team’s game strategies. The child knows that they have an important role in the team, and as such, they develop the discipline to be a responsible team player. Additionally, they follow the game’s rules because they know that not doing so could affect the whole team. It also teaches them about respect; respect for each player on the team, as well as respect for coaches.

It teaches them about sportsmanship

In every game, there will always be winners and losers. Not every game can be won by your child’s team no matter how hard they worked for it. A true sportsman knows how to accept defeat graciously. A sportsman also plays fairly, and respects not only his or her teammates but more importantly, the opposing team’s players and coaches. Learning how to accept defeat, and losing gracefully, is a lesson that they will take into adulthood.

There are numerous other benefits that kids can enjoy in sports. And while I do encourage you to encourage your kids to sign-up for sports, pushing them against their will might not be the best way to achieve your goal. Talk to them about it and discuss other activities that they can do if sports aren’t what they want to get involved in.

This is Jonathan Bunge of Chicago once more. I hope to see you all here again soon!

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Jonathan Bunge of Chicago Shares His Top 3 Tips for Maximizing Small Bedroom Spaces

Jonathan Bunge of Chicago owns a full-service construction company. He has undertaken various construction projects of different styles and scales, from renovations to adding extensions, and building a structure from the ground up. In this post, he shares his personal tips for maximizing small bedroom spaces. Read more tips from Jon Bunge of Chicago below.

One of the many concerns that clients usually ask me about—particularly those who are renovating or building their first homes—is the restrictions of small spaces. The desire to provide separate bedrooms for each of their children is often overshadowed by their apprehensions of building small rooms for each one of them, thinking that small bedrooms can make them feel cramped and uncomfortable. But with just a few simple interior design tricks, homeowners can make smaller bedrooms feel less cramped. The trick is to consider every item that goes into each of the bedrooms. Here are few more tips that you can consider to get the most out of small spaces:

1. Use hidden storage spaces. In a small bedroom, you won’t have room for a lot of storage cabinets. Since every piece of furniture takes up important space, you would want to keep your furniture to a bare minimum; and maximizing every inch of space helps in keeping the bedroom from feeling cramped. This brings me to the “hidden” storage space, which is under the bed. You can go about this in two ways: you can either add rolling drawers to the bottom of the bed frame or to make it simpler, use storage bins and store these under the bed.

2. Optimize the power of illusion. One of the most common recommendations of interior designers when it comes to creating an illusion of space in a small bedroom is using mirrors on the walls. Install a large mirror on one side of the wall to create the illusion of an open space; or hang several circular mirrors of various sizes on one side of the wall to create the same illusion.

3. Use built-in cabinets or drawers. A bulky cabinet, dresser or bureau can immediately make the room feel too cramped for comfort. Plus, there’s a bigger chance of you bumping into them every time you walk around the room. To avoid these issues, ask your builder to create built-in drawers or dressers. With most of the section buried between the internal spaces or gaps between the walls, you will have the dresser that you need without taking up space in the bedrooms actual interiors.

There are several other ways that you can maximize your small bedroom space, including using a trundle bed for overnight guests, soft lighting, keeping the color combinations to a bare minimum, using floor lamps instead of the usual lamp and night desk combination, and installing the right window treatments.

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For Jonathan Bunge, Chicago has a good collection of vintage homes—bungalows that were built between 1910 and 1940. While these amazing architectural masterpieces still proudly stand, most homes in Chicago have taken the condominium, multi-family design. If vintage style is more to your liking, there are ways to incorporate vintage design into your home’s interiors without going over budget. For Jon Bunge, Chicago residents living in multi-family complexes need not restrain their creativity when it comes to the interior style of their homes. While the home may have been built in a modern architectural style, how your interiors will look is completely up to you.

In previous posts, I shared my admiration for the city’s vintage bungalows. He thinks these homes are some of the best remnants of the state’s historical and cultural heritage. I have seen how current homes have taken on the modern architectural style of multi-family complexes, and since these can be quite expensive, depending on the size of the unit, most residents choose a smaller unit. But large or small, the interior style should be completely your own.

If you admire vintage homes like Jonathan Bunge of Chicago does, there are ways for you to turn your modern living space into a vintage home. You can choose to either go vintage all the way, or for the more eclectic individual, a combination of modern and vintage elements. Below are some tips from Jon Bunge for Chicago homes:

1. Hit the ‘used’ shops. One of the most common misconceptions about vintage interiors is that decorating can be pretty expensive; because they believe that antique furniture pieces are the only way to go about it. Visit local shops that specialize in vintage items, from furniture to fixtures, and home accents. Don’t go for the strictly antique shops; scour the streets for shops that sell used items.

2. Go for accents. If a vintage sofa is off your budget scale, you can use a vintage style throw in retro patterns, colorful fabrics, and even handmade crocheted sofa blankets to cover your modern couch with. You can also have a few other throw patterns in your closet to give you different vintage styles for different occasions or seasons. Old-style ceramics, plates, pillow covers, candleholders, and picture frames are perfect for accentuating your vintage living room as well.

3. Get busy with your paint brush. Earth tones, gold, ivory, gold yellow, and gold brown are some of the common colors used on the interiors of homes in the early to mid-1900s. Painting your walls, trimmings, doors, and even cabinets and desks in these colors can give your room the vintage look that you want. Make sure to use a minimal combination of these colors as you don’t want the colors to clash. When in doubt, it’s best to go for simple and subdued.

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Understanding the difference between warm and cool colors can help you decide color combinations more effectively. Learning how color temperature affects the mind can help you design color schemes that will work best for you.

Warm Lighting

Warm lighting feels more natural and cozy in the evenings. We perceive yellow and reddish light as warmer and bluish light as cooler, though they are actually the opposite. Warm lighting seems to relax us and help us wind down for a good night’s rest.

Warm light is perfect for the bedroom since that space is for relaxation. Use it in the living room at night, and you’ll get a cozier and inviting environment. Avoid using warm lighting though while working as it will signal your body that you’re about to wind down.

Colors on the color temperature scale from about 2700-3000k are tagged as warm colors. These are typically incandescent lamps with reddish or yellow whites.

Cool Lighting

Cool lighting helps us be alert and energetic. It is perfect during the day when you’re performing tasks. Cool lighting is also ideal for your home office and living room in the morning.

All interior designers will say that curtains make a room. Owners tend to forget this crucial detail when they are decorating their homes. Window treatments extend far beyond just choosing a color and then going with it. There are so many factors that must be taken into consideration. To help with this choice, below are a few tips.

Color and fabric: Fabric is the most important factor when deciding on curtains. This is because the material will dictate how well the window treatment function and hold up over time. Curtains that are too heavy do not fold crisply when they are drawn, whereas too light ones typically do not fall well either. The tip is to hold fabrics up to a window (even in the fabric showroom), pleat it like an accordion at the top, and then letting it drape. If the fabric flares, it will not fall nicely on the window. Try working with samples that are at least two years to see the true drape. Remember that sunlight also causes fabrics to fade over time so avoid bright colors in an area that gets a lot of exposure.

Length: Decide how high above the window you want the curtain to begin. Panels placed higher than the window gives height to the room. Typically, interior designers choose to hang curtains about six inches above the window frame. Measure from the top of the window (plus whatever added inches you’d like) to the floor. Traditional lengths that have curtains puddled on the floor add two to three inches to your length.

Cleaning: Owners should be practical and determine whether they want to buy curtains that are washer machine friendly or meant for dry cleaning only. Keep in mind that high-quality curtains can be ruined if they are washed machine.

Owners can try to speak with their local interior designer for more tips.

All interior designers will say that curtains make a room. Owners tend to forget this crucial detail when they are decorating their homes. Window treatments extend far beyond just choosing a color and then going with it. There are so many factors that must be taken into consideration. To help with this choice, below are a few tips.

Color and fabric: Fabric is the most important factor when deciding on curtains. This is because the material will dictate how well the window treatment function and hold up over time. Curtains that are too heavy do not fold crisply when they are drawn, whereas too light ones typically do not fall well either. The tip is to hold fabrics up to a window (even in the fabric showroom), pleat it like an accordion at the top, and then letting it drape. If the fabric flares, it will not fall nicely on the window. Try working with samples that are at least two years to see the true drape. Remember that sunlight also causes fabrics to fade over time so avoid bright colors in an area that gets a lot of exposure.

Length: Decide how high above the window you want the curtain to begin. Panels placed higher than the window gives height to the room. Typically, interior designers choose to hang curtains about six inches above the window frame. Measure from the top of the window (plus whatever added inches you’d like) to the floor. Traditional lengths that have curtains puddled on the floor add two to three inches to your length.

Cleaning: Owners should be practical and determine whether they want to buy curtains that are washer machine friendly or meant for dry cleaning only. Keep in mind that high-quality curtains can be ruined if they are washed machine.

Owners can try to speak with their local interior designer for more tips.

Practice does make perfect – but research also helps. Basketball skills can be improved with sports science. In fact, scientists are studying the physics behind the perfect three-point shot. There are many factors involved in this, two of which are listed and described below.

The arc of the shot: Research shows that the lowest arc possible for a three-point shot is about 33 degrees. The perfect three-point shot is measured to have an arc of 45 degrees, a speed of just around 20 miles per hour (with two revolutions per second of spin), and is thrown at 20.9 feet from the basket.

The Magnus effect: This describes the lift force of an object and directly impacts the flight of a ball. As one can imagine, the Magnus effect is heavily studied by athletes whose sports involve a ball. Golfers, baseball players, even tennis, and table tennis players employ this effect to curve the flight of their ball. In basketball, it is important for players to throw the ball in such a way that the backspin gives the ball a lift at the slowest possible speed. This reduces the rebound in case the ball hits the backboard or rim.

It was found that the perfect three-point shot is composed of three things: correct speed, right angle of approach, and the perfect arc of the ball. Another important factor is practice. Consistency determines reliability. Even if basketball players do not fully understand the physics involved, it would help if they understand the basic mechanics of it. This, combined with their regular practice sessions, should significantly improve their chances of scoring a perfect shot.

As an architect and interior designer, I always advise homeowners to prepare their resources if they’re planning on having a renovation. We only want the best for our homes, right? So to get your money’s worth, here are some of the things you should consider before deciding on renovating your home.

1. The budget: Renovating will cost you. It’s okay to put it off if the finances won’t allow it. But if you have set aside a budget, you can start renovating parts of your home. It doesn’t have to be the whole house in one go. What’s important is that you’ll have enough for other expenses.

2. The season: Some homeowners think that renovating toward the end of the year would be cheaper. Unless it’s an urgent need, renovations should be done during the dry seasons. Avoid scheduling during late winter and early spring as it might take longer than you expect. When you schedule during the summer or fall, workers will spend less time repairing your home, and you’ll have less time thinking about it.

3. The materials.: Don’t ever settle for cheap and unsustainable materials. It might cause more harm than good. To make sure you get only the best for your home, communicate with your contractor before buying. He or she will give you eco-friendly and budget-friendly options that will be right for your home.

Home renovations don’t have to be stressful. Sure, you and the rest of the household would have to adjust a bit, but when everything is going as planned, it will be worth it.

One of the many icons of 1990s sports was the famed entrance of the Chicago Bulls. Featuring some of the NBA’s greatest players in their prime, the Bulls dominated the league throughout the latter half of the decade. Their entrance was one of anticipation, with children and adults alike waited in anticipation as the bombastic Ray Clay called out the names of the team’s starting lineup.

The litany of some of the world’s most famous athletes—Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Luc Longley, Ron Harper, and Michael Jordan (rapturous applause)—was accompanied by the now-famous theme, a simple yet powerful piece titled Sirius, originally recorded by The Alan Parson’s Project.

(Warning: I might be going full fanboy here. Seriously, who wouldn’t cheer for your home team and think its entrance as the best thing ever when one of them—your childhood hero, no less—helped win a game with a formidable opponent *while he was sick*.)

This crowd-pleasing introduction, simple in execution yet enthusiastic in its reception, has yet to be matched since. While the music and the announcements were epic on their own, it was the crowd’s adulation, merited by the performance of the lineup, which made it truly iconic. The Bulls knew how to make an entrance, and that appears to be the one thing that no other team has matched yet. Even the teams that had approached the number of records such as the Golden State Warriors didn’t have an entrance as iconic.

Today, the Chicago Bulls entrance, from its music to its bombastic roll call remains a fond memory unique to 1990s basketball. Champions may come and go, and their entrances may become lackluster, but the memories they leave behind will remain with us always.